Forming concrete structures



Sept. 20, 1927.

c. E. ROOP ET AL I FORMING CONCRETE STRUCTURES Filed May 4, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 20, 1927.

C. E. ROOP ET AL FORMING CONCRETE STRUCTURES Filed May 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 i3 7 14' 3 gnvm flozaf Char/e s f/mer A 0 0 Zea. M fi/c/rmeyexp 26 gb/rslanf/l'r 5. 50/0/70,

ti I sep 1927 c. E. ROOP ET AL I FORMING'CONCRETE STRUCTURES 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 4, 1926 I gwuznkoad, Char/es 7mer R0 Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,642,753 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ELMER ROOP,'OI' RICEHOND HEIGHTS, AND LEO M. DIECKMEYER AND CON- STANTINE B. BARUTIO, 01 ST. LOUIS,

MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS T0 STEVENS ENGI- NEERING AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

Application filed Kay 4,

This invention has to do with the forming 'of concrete structures, and has more particular reference to a means and method for. constructing a conventional type of concrete container, particularly adapted for use in garnering grain and the like, and comprising an outer vertical wall, an inclined bottom wall, and one or more inner vertical walls underlying the bottom wall to support the same and connecting the same with the outer wall. Such containers are, also, .commonly provided with concrete roofs.

Hitherto the outer wall of such a structure has been formed by alternately lift-in and filling a form or falsestructure with superposed adhering layers of concrete until the to of the wall was reached; while separate orming structures were erected for pouring the inner walls, the inclined bottom wall, and the roof after the concrete in the outer wall had set. Moreover, steel beams were employed to support the roof. Manifestly, such a method of building is not practical for producing a monolithic structure; and the separate ouring of the component walls and the roo and the multiplicity of separate forms required, tend towards delay and increased cost in the construction of the container.

Accordingly, an objectof the present invention is to provide a method of pouring the concrete, so that the outer wall, the inner wall, the roof, and the supporting beam therefor may be poured monolithically, thus forming a stronger structure.

Another object is to rovide a single form or molding structure or carrying out the method and which is so arranged that it may be elevated progressively to the full heightof the container and enable the pouring of the concrete throughout without requiring the erection of other molding forms for the inner wall, roof, and be'amr Other objects and advantages, more or less ancillary to the foregoing, will appear in the course of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denotes like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of the; lower portion of a structure as it appears in course of erection,

I'OBKING CONCRETE STRUCTURES.

1926. Serial No. 106,659.

together with the, false structure provided for the purpose of molding the same;

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 3, exhibiting the manner of utilizing the false structure to mold the roof and the supporting beams therefor;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure l is a diagrammatic View taken on the line 4-4; in Figure 3, exhibiting the manner of molding the transverse walls;

Figure 5 is a diagram depicting in plan view the manner of blocking oif the flow of concrete to the transverse wall section of the mold after the said transverse walls have been completed and while the pouring of the higher "outer wall is being continued;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the structure, taken on the line 6-6 in Figure 1, showing the manner of forming the inclined bottom wall, the other portions of the structure having been completed and the constructional form shown in Figure 1 having been removed;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontalsectional view through the completed structure, taken on the line 7--7 in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a vertical central sectional view through one of the lifting jacks, showing the details thereof.

A concrete footing 1 of any common type is preferably first formed in the usual manner; and, after the footing has set, the forms 2 for molding the vertical walls of the structure are erected thereon. The sides 3 of the forms preferably comprise vertically extending tongue and groove flooring, secured .to upper horizontal ribs 4 and lower horizontal ribs 5, each formed of a double layer of planks 6. The ribs and sides are straddledby yokes 7 also preferably formed of lumber and each comprising depending side pieces 8, connected together above the top of the-sides 3 by an upper horizontal crosspiece 9 and a lower horizontal crosspiece 10, and connected to the ribs 4 and 5 by braces 11 and 12, respectively. Jacks 13 are adapted to be clamped on the vertical reinforcing rods 14 of the walls about to be poured, and serve to lift the yokes 7 and the form borne thereby. Each of the jacks 13, as shown in detail in Figure 8. comprises an externally threaded vertical sleeve 15, which passes through the crosspiece 9, and which is annularly grooved at its lower end to fit thetongues 17 of opposing blocks 18, secured to the clamping head 19, provided withiopposing clamping fingers 20, normally springpressed against the reinforci-ngrod 14, passing through the crosspiece head 19, and sleeve 15. The upper end of sleeve is squared to fit the square central opening in a block 21, having radially-extendlng sockets 22, adapted to receive bars or levers to be manipulated by a Workman for the purpose of turning the. sleeve 15 to raise or lower the form. It will be observed that the forms are provided with annular spaces 23 for pouring the annular outer walls 24 ofthe structure, and with inner wall spaces 25 for forming the inner vertical Walls 26, whose opposite ends merge with the adjacent parts of the outer walls 24. The layers of planks 6, forming the upper ribs 4 of the straight sides 3, inclosing theinner wall spaces 25, are preferably separated and connected on their outer sides by beams 27. Joists 28 are supported on the beams 27 and ribs 4, and planks 29 are laid on the joists 28 to form a convenient platform or floor from which to conduct operations. The

floor 29 iscut away to form openings alining with the spaces 23 and 25. The joists under that portion of the floor disposed exteriorly of the spaces 23 may be supported attheir outercnds by braces 30, best shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Rods 31, passin through crosspieces 9 and 10 and ribs 4 an 5, support the said ribs from the crosspiece' 9 through washers 32, and nuts 33 threading on the said rods. The outer edge of the floor may be suitably fenced in to safeguard the workmen, and other suitable temporary ancillary structures may be erected as usual to facilitate the construction of the building, which fence and structures, however, are not shown in the drawings.

The pouring of the walls is begunwith the sides 3. resting on the footing or slab 1, suitable horizontal reinforcing rodsbeing laid at intervals as the concreterises in the spaces 23 and25. When the said spaces have been substantially filled, the entire form is lifted a few inches by means of the jacks 13 and another layer of concrete is poured be- .fore the revious layer has had time to become fu y set at its upper portion, thus uniting monolithically therewith. The form is again raised, and the pouring of theconcrete and elevation of the form is continued until the roof is reached.

It will be observed in Figure 6 that thetops of the inner walls 26 are inclined to coincide with the inclined slab or bottom wall 34 of the completed flructure. The manner .crete while it is ina comparatively viscous condition, so that the inclined top 35 may be formed by pouring'the layers 36 terminating therein with their ends 37 in progressively retracted relation to one another, each layer being poured before the previous layer has solidified and being of a consistency when being poured such that it will unite with the previous or un'derlying'layer and yet not flow beyond its predetermined limits at the end37. When the top of the inner walls at either end of the incline is reached, the said end is blocked oft'from the annular wall by inserting a plug or stop 38 in the space 25 adjoining 'the space 23, and so preventing the flow of cdncrete from the space 23 into the space 25 thereat. When the form has been elevated a suitable distance above the inclined 'inner-walls'so as 1 to provide ample clearance, a form 39 of the usual type may be erected in the structure for pouring the inclined bottom slab 34 and I its integral supportingbeams 40', as shown in Figure 6.

When the form has reached the roof, the

plugs 38 are removed, and horizontal planks- 41, as shown in Figure 2, are nailed or otherwise suitably secured between the straight sides 3 defining the spaces 25 so as to form a floor therefor. The floors 41 are prefera bly supported by rods '42 passing'thereunder and bending upwardly and laterally on either side and its ends secured-in any suitable manner to the annular portion of the forms. A peripheral flange-43 is placed on" the'floor29 to define the outer edge of the roof slab about to be poured. The concrete is then poured into the spaces 25, 23 and on the floor 29, forming a monolithic structure of the slab 44. supporting beams 45 and walls 24 and 26. .The various parts of the structure may have imbedded therein the usual re inforcing rods of metal' which may be placed in the spaces in the forms as the construction proceeds. -'=Whenthe structurehas been completed. the forms. of course, aretaken down, and any projecting reinforcing rods cut olf.

It will be-obser-ved that this method of-construction utilizes thesame formfor molding the roof beams 45 as-well as the-walls In the erection of concrete 'strixcturesofthiS type, the cost of erecting the special fern-1S required frequently *apprcximstes- -fifty. per cent of the total cdst. Manifestly,'since this 30 of'the said layers adjacent the said ends beinvention utilizes one form where heretofore two separate forms were required, it effects great economy in the erection of concrete structures of the class described. By means of this invention, concrete beams may be formed monolithically with. the roof slab, providing a stron er and cheaper structure than is possible with the use of steel beams, and moreover, in the event of fire, the concrete beams will not become warped as will steel beams.

. Having thus fully described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. 'The herein-described method of constructing a monolithic concrete Wall comprising laterally adjoining sections of different heights, the top of the lower section declimng with its recession from the taller section; which consists in pouring the same in superposed layers in a wall form having a level open top, the declining top being formed -b pourmg the layers terminating therein-w th their ends inprogressively retracted relation to one another, the portions mg comparatively viscous when being poured so as to remain substantially within the said ends, and the portions of the said layers remote from the 'said ends, being formed of concrete which is comparatively mobile when poured; and in. subsequently I raising the form after completion of the declining top, and blocking off the form to define the end of the taller section from the space over the declining top, and thereafter with superposed layers of concrete.

filling thetaller section space of the form 1 he-herein-'described method of con structmg a concrete container having a ver 'tical outer wall, an inclined bottom wall, and

' an partition vertical wall connecting the wall'and' forming a' support for the latter;

outer wall and the underside of the bottom which consists in the following steps first,

,erecting a horizontal form having vertical openings therethrough for the vertical walls;

1 no i i clined top being poured with t other and being suflicientl viscous thereat second, filling the openings with concrete and raising the form and again filling the i same to form another layer of concrete overlying thel firstlayerand uniting therewith, again raislng the-form andrepeating this 'series ofoperations until the-upper end of the-inclined top 0f the partition' wall is reached,the layers termin'atiug-1 in the ineir' ends in progressively retracted relation to one an to substantially retain t e said relation while setting; third, blocking ofi the partition-connecting-wall opening from the outerwall opening in the said form; fourth, alternately raising the form and filling its outerwall opening with concrete to form united superposed layers of the outer wall; and fifth, forming the bottom wall over the partition connecting wall.

3. The herein-described method of constructing a concrete container having a ver- .tical outer wall, a vertical partition wall of outer-wall opening in the said orm;.then

alternately raising the form and fillin its duter-wall opening with concrete to cm united superposed layers of the outer wall until the roof is reached; then unblocking the partition wall opening, so that it again communicates with the outer-wall opening, and closing the lower end of the partition-wall opening; and then filling the said openings and the top surface of the form with concrete to form a monolithic wall, roof, and

beam structure. I

.4. A form for pouring concrete structures and having vertical openings therethrough for forming outerand partition connected concrete walls, in combination with removable' means for blocking communication between the outer and partition walls.

, 5. A shiftable form for pouring concretev structures" and. having vertical openings therethrough for forming connected outer and partition concrete walls, in combination 'with means for closing the lower end of the partition wall opening to utilize the same for also forming a beamabove the terminating tops of said partition walls.

6, A movable form for pouring concrete structures presenting 'a continuous vertical opening therethrough to form the outer concrete wall, a second vertical opening in communication with said first-mentioned open ing, removable means for blocking the communicationbetween said outer and partition walls u on the completion of the latter and means or restoring the communication for forminga beam for said structure.

In tes'timony whereof we hereunto afiix.

our signatures.

' [CHARLES ELMERRooP.

' LEO MJDIECKMIEYER.

CONSTANTINE B. 

